We are nourished in many ways. Food is the most obvious; wanting for it, day in and day out, or conversely, having complete access to it's abundance can dramatically shape our world perspective. No less important in the potential to thrive as human beings is the nourishment we receive from one another: the relationships we cultivate and nurture, the friendships that grace us and gently demand for us to expose our most brilliant selves, the sisterhoods and brotherhoods that offer us respite from the inherent challenges of life, and sometimes from ourselves.
A soul-sister who has been steeped in her own battles, knowing that I'm feeling a bit fragile at the moment, sent me a note yesterday. Her note included a powerful passage. It moved me from a place of relative self-pity to a place of knowing that this too shall pass, not without angst - but neither without imparting a potent opportunity for personal growth.
"Salvation often comes in the form of tragedy. There have been times in my life when I have fallen headlong into suffering that scraped the flesh from my bones only to find that my decent into pain and darkness was my delivery. I have learned not to judge what appears at my feet or knocks at my door. What appears initially as misfortune is often the gift I have prayed most devoutly for."
It's the variation in seasons that allows us to fully appreciate a particular one, right? Life really is beautiful.
28 Days | $700 | 3 Non-profits
For the next 28 days, from November 27 through December 24, I'll significantly reduce my food choices: I'll eat only 7 foods, 5 condiments, and drink only 1 beverage (what are they? You'll have to read my blog to find out!). Lattes, fish and chips, veggie pad thai, and vino be gone--Yaaouch! By doing this, I will save approximately $700 that I will then donate to three extraordinary, greater-Denver non-profit organizations.
We've all felt the pinch of these tough economic times. Hit especially hard are organizations that function solely to help the most vulnerable among us. Click the links on the right to learn more about the great work of three such organizations, and then cast your vote. Your vote will determine the percentage of the $700 that each organization will receive. I encourage you to influence the votes of others–but please only vote once. I'll blog about my G.U.L.P. journey and update my progress daily. If you scroll down, you'll find my daily blog postings. Your comments are encouraged!
WHY FOOD, WHY NOW? I wanted my G.U.L.P. choice to be a significant but realistic sacrifice. Food seemed an obvious choice for several reasons: First, I spend a lot of money on food. Not just basic sustenance, but on brunches, dinners out, pricey markets, happy hours, and expensive take-out. When I reviewed my budget and found that I spend roughly $700 each month on eating and drinking, I realized I needed to check this luxury. Second, I think the act of eating is relatively thoughtless for many of us--it has been for me. The question isn't what will I eat, but rather, what do I want to eat. Finally, I chose this time of year for my G.U.L.P. project because the holidays tend to intensify our emotions. For those who have plenty, it’s often a time of celebration and feelings of joy can be readily identified. For those who are barely getting by, the holidays can be agonizing.
JOIN ME: What would you give up for 28 days? I have chosen to limit food choices, but that's just one idea. If each one of us gave up a non-essential item, service, or even a certain food for a manageable period of time--something that we've been conditioned to believe is a need rather than a want, and commit the money saved to an effective community organization, imagine the impact! If you decide to give something up--and I hope you do!--I'd love to hear about your experiences.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
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Ah, Peg, Ann, (whatever), even addressing a serious subject as you are, your words still find a way to make me laugh. Wow, what an undertaking. After calculating my coffee and wine purchase alone, im embarrased to even post the amount. I will say that, although starting a few days late, Dustin and I are taking the challenge and donating our $$ to a local event, I will have to elaborate later. Love ya lots.
ReplyDeleteErin A.